Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-07-23
TER NS---N2. 90 PER YEAR
NOVEL SPORT.
Hunting RattIesnakes on the shores
OF Lake George.

Hunting Rattlcsnakes on tne Snorc'
OF Lake George.
Perhaps in no part Of the country.
SAYS The 4lbaHy Journal. can be found
a more desirable place for the seeker ot
recreation and rest to spend hi~
vacation than on the shores of Lake
George. The clearness of its waters
and wild beauty of it, mountain sur-
roundingS. its fine atmosphere. AMI
historic recolectionS make it place Ot
more than common interest to the
tourist. Its facilities for hunting aud
fishing are unsurpassed. There Is one
kind of rame that is hunted with much
zeal bv lovers of this sport which Is
seldom mentioned as an attraction to
the region. This is the hunting OF rat
tlesnakes on the mountain ledges amt
rockv hillsides everv spring Several
of our oldest residents make trip
each spring. when the weather becomes
warm enough, TO the home OF the
reptiles. of which there are several
well-known dens on the lake. Mr..
Hershel Colviu, of Glens Falls, and
Reuben Ripley. of Lake George. have
long been noted for their annual rattle
snake hunts This year Mr.. Colvin re-
turned home much disgusted, having
f ONLY killed twelve snakes. Their mode
of capturing them is dangerous, to say
the 'ea>i. Taking their guns they pro-
ceed 10 tine places where the rattlers are
won't to assemble and be at about among
the rocks until one is discovered. Then
they shoot him. Oftentimes they ap-
pear suddenly to the hunter. Then
the sensation is not so pleasant.
The snakes are hunted for the sport,
but some old hunters have great
faith in their oil which they claim is
very penetrating and a great remedy
for rheumatism. The killing off OF
large numbers in the spring lessons ths
number TO wander abroad all arouuS
the lake later in the season, to the an
noyance of cottage campers and hoteI
keepers. For as soon aS hot weather
begins the snakes leave their dens and
roam over the surrounding country.
They are great swimmers, and swim
across the lake and make no chice OF
landing place. Those interested
have men engaged the season through
in killing rattlers. Each morning they
90 out early with pole and poke into
all the places where a snake might be
hidden and kill all they may find. In
some spots a man is kept on the watch
at all times for snakes, so that board
/, ers at hotels as visitors rarely II ever
I see snake. In fact. there is not an
D alto ndant at a hotel on the lake who
D can he enticed TO own that he ever saw
a rattlesnake. to say nothing about
killing one. In spite of all this watch
!. ing a rattler will manage to get into a
: house once in q while. and then there
: il music for short time among the
, ladies. Old campers on the lake who
have visited it for wears can seldom be
, forced to admit that there are many
A snakes there, unless they may be in
h weighed into telling snake stories. then
b one gets an idea of snakes. Two spe-
cies of rattlesnake exist there, but as a
rule they will trouble no one il not dis
: turbed. No cases of anybody being
r bitten by a snake is recorded unless he
3 was engaged in hunting them or had
= invaded their dens. An old snake
= hunter several years ago became so
: careless that in trying to capture Que
n he undertook to catch the snake by the
= was bitten. Not enough whisky could
,r be got into him. and he never hunted
v am more rattlesnakes. Most expert
n enced campers keep a supply Of snake
2. root aud whisky on hand in case
e. should be needed.
g